GALLERY: Eastenders Ricky Groves backs ‘Carry on Golfing’ charity event

Actor Ricky Groves joined ex Spandau Ballet lead singer Tony Hadley for a charity event on a Peterborough area golf course. After eighteen years Tony has handed over the leadership reigns to Ricky for this star-studded tournament supporting children’s charity Action Medical Research at Elton Furze Golf Club sponsored by Quai-digital

Organised by Action Medical Research’s Peterborough committee, this year’s theme was ‘Carry On Golfing’ and true to form these creative volunteers deliver more than just a golf tournament.

The fun started on Thursday evening (12 September) with a pub quiz at the ‘Holiday Inn Peterborough West’ attended by many familiar TV quizzing faces including the Dark Destroyer Shaun Wallace, fellow “chaser” Anne Hegerty and World’s leading Quizzer Kevin Ashman from Eggheads.

On Friday, the main event was held at the ‘Elton Furze Golf Club’ in Haddon. Among the 116 players helping to raise money for Action were, Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, world champion rower Sarah Wickless MBE and singer Jimmy Constable from pop band 911, GB Hockey Player Simon Mason, GB High Jumper Geoff Parsons, ex Arsenal Player John Matthews and ex Chelsea Steve Finnieston.

Following the golf, a four course Gala dinner was held at the Holiday Inn West. Various awards were handed out from the earlier golf competition and guests were entertained by auctioneer Jonny Gould whose talents added enormously to the total raised.

The guests danced away the rest of the evening and were treated with songs from Tricia Penrose, TV’s famous Heartbeat barmaid and Jimmy Constable followed by Tony Hadley and top crooner Andrew Bourn.

Speaking after the event, Ricky Groves said: “I am honoured and proud to be associated with Action Medical Research and the great work they do. It has been an amazing few days and it looks like we will have raised around £25,000.

“As ever it was brilliantly organised once again by the Peterborough committee”

The Ricky Groves Celebrity Golf Day was sponsored by Quai-digital and supported by Boongate Kia and Holiday Inn.

Action Medical Research is a UK-wide children’s charity which funds desperately needed research to tackle the diseases that devastate the lives of so many of our children.

It has been funding medical breakthroughs since it began in 1952 including helping to introduce the first polio vaccines in the UK, developing the use of ultrasound in pregnancy and testing the rubella vaccine.

The charity is currently funding research into conditions including asthma, prematurity, epilepsy, meningitis, cerebral palsy, brain cancer and some rare and distressing conditions.